The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-11

Tells ths Mormon story from His stand Point
Some New Facts.

the first wife Of Brigham Young and be 10 the
vice president of m intelligence Office Of pc
culiar nature which combines banking with to-
biography, statistics and general information.
Having known Mr.. Young somewhat years ago.
took the opportunity of redscovering him 70
ask some leading questions about the issues IN
Utah.
He is think. about AZ years old, and he has.
IL am correctly informed, ten sons and ten
danahters. He was born at Nauvoo near the
time Joseph Smith was murdered in Carthage
jail Few men are more presentable aud fasci-
mating. There Is undertone of religious af-
.fecton in his nature quite removed from can't or
phariseelsm. Said he: 1.-The Mormons believe
that the greatest use man be in this world
ts to people 1t with offspring. All that we get
out OF living we owe to our parents. We owe
them the gift of life. That affection for children
is the keystone of our faith. My faith
or had twensy-six sons and twenty.
six daughters. 1t 10 my experience that
the more children you are thrown IN with at
home the wider becomes your enjoyment of men
and life. With that large number of children
1pected our parents just as mrch as u we had
been two or three children instead OF hfty-two.
"How much money did your father leaveP
His estate amounted to about ~. 800 0OO He
had been a diligeEt mau, taking large contracts.
and some risks. He was able to give $22 600 to
each OF his children, and they all shared alike
Then, everyone of the widows especially
taken care of. They have their separate houses.
and it is the duty of the children to pay equal
respect TO their fathers reflects
'Where did your mother come from In the
first placer
'From Rhode Island. at no great distance
from Providence. My father was native of
Vermont. My mother went out to Kirkland,
o., in pursuit of information about this new re-
ligion which Joseph Smith had introduced.
There she became member OF the cnurcn, ana
in course of time married my father, being his
first wife,
'.Are you aware, Mr.. Yonng, that President
Garfield lived close by Kirkland, and was ac-
qusinted with Joseph Smith"
Yes Garfield talked frequently
that subject He told that there was not
the least doubt that Joseph Smith had the
power to perform miracles, and related that he
cast the devil out of man. Garfield explain ed
It on the ground that Smith was man of great
magnetism. Some of the neighbors claim that
Garfield had serious intentions of joining the
Mormon faith in his youth He was Camp
bellite preacher. After he had taken so much
interest in our people. and was sincerely liked
by them, felt il hard that he should have
yielded TO the intolerance in his official circle
and have given us but little more chance than
any Of the other Presidents"
What Mr. Young relates about Garfield was
true He told me with considerable animation
that once, in kirkland. person seemed pos
yessed with devil and had some kind of lunacy.
Joseph Smith, Garfield said. was splendid
looking man, young and hale anu strong. and he
commanded this evil spirit to leave the person.
Garfield said that there was almost a visible
Issuing of the demon from the man He, how
aver, put the whole thing on the ground of q
strong will.
"How many people have you got now at Salt
Lake City. Mr.. YoungT
About 30, 600. The population OF the Terri
Tory liz about IT'S, 900 more than enough to en-
little 10 to admission into the Union. A constitu-
tional convention is about to meet in Salt Lake
which will think, take the step of prohibiting
plural marriage for the future / do not assert
that, because il takes great many people to
come to a conclusion. but think that is the dis
position of the old heads of the church. The
territorial condition is a false one. and is
mnder of the old fashion the British had of
governing these colonies without allowing them
TO have n representation. The government sends
10 us territorial officials, many of whom come
out there for no other purpose than TO harass US
and make evil feeling The American people
ought to be too generous to wish to keep M
these disorders. I think that if our people
yield TO the prejudice which seems TO be general.
and conform to the usages of the rest of the
government Few States anywhere have passed
through such a probation as Utah. Our people
have removed from Ohio to Missouri. from Mis-
souri, to Illinois, from, illinois to Iowa and Neb-
raska, and thence have gone on ward, passing the
limit of civilization, and even of safety. If any
people have labored hard to construct state
under Disadvantages, it is ours"
what Is the fact &c the Mormon people
liking disliking the United States ~ III
''Ours is the only religion in America which is
based upon wholly and only American ideas. We
believe that Christopher Columbus was divinely
inspired to come and discover this continent
We believe that everything was appointed which
took place in the way of the Independence of the
country under the leadership of Washington.
Other religions began with the Jewish dispersal
lions. The Mormon religion begins and ends in
America. have brother and nephew who
have been graduated at the military ACADEMY of
West Point In my youth have many time
climbed to the top of o: those pine trees
which grow the Sierras and removed the
upper limbs to make it a fiag-pole for the Amer
lean flag
1.-THE Mormons. in spite of their harsh treat.
nent. continue from year to year and from gen.
integral part OF the American Nation, and they
have no expectations or hopes outside OF this
Republic" ess
What ia the talk about the endowment-house
and it's mystic rites based upon Z" y
.The Mormons have q species of Freemasoory
connected with their Temple. The origin of our
sect or religion is mixed up with the old rites of
the jewish Temple. This dispensation or faith
ms 10 was Left to us. includes good deal that is
social and Of the family character. While am
not privileged To say what takes place in our en-
dowment- house. can tell you what does not
take place, and no man ever was called upon
within those precincts to take oath against
the United States or any part OF its government.
That has been freely charged, but who could
know what was going on there in the secrecy of
mystic rights. l tell you that the Norm ons
American in race, feeling. history. No other
continent Nearly all the Mormon leaders were
OF the hardy stock of New England and New
York, with here and there a native Engishman
like John Taylor
How old Is John Taylor now7"
Eighty That poor old man is without
home to-day. He is a polygam,st, but he is so
years OF age. Iney got 10 ral0lng n1m and
suing him. and he called his little circle of wives
around him and said; All that / can do is TO 60
and live by myself. 1t 10 cruel to be separated
from you all, but there 10 no other way"
''What has become of George @. Cannon9"
Mr. Cannon is one OF our able men, perhaps
not as forcible or original as John Taylor. Some
men strong in the stock; others strong
in precept We regard John Taylor rs the head
of the church and of our people. He is native
Of England, but has been in this country nearly
All his lifetime"
How much money has been spent on the
Mormon Templew
about s.. $50. 900. You must not confound
the Tabernacle with the Temple. The Taber-
nacle ia the large building where my father
preached when you were out there. The Tenn
pie 10 stone building which is expected to be
the permanent fold and monument to the Nor
mon Church. 1t has been built down to a bed
OF natural cement or conglomerase. which is
of the curious discoveries make from time to
time 10 the progress of our church. We have
got to a rock cement"
How has Cleveland treated you Mormons2"
mat Mr. nd md